Rohit Sharma, the captain of India, is nearing the end of his cricket career. He will lead India in the upcoming Champions Trophy, and former cricketer Suresh Raina believes this could be his last ICC tournament as captain.
Rohit Sharma’s Leadership in the Champions Trophy 2025
Rohit is expected to open the batting in the Champions Trophy alongside vice-captain Shubman Gill. Though he has struggled with form in Tests lately, he has consistently performed well in One Day Internationals (ODIs).
Rohit has won three ICC trophies in his career, with the most recent being the T20 World Cup in 2024. He played a crucial role in India’s victory by giving the team strong starts at the beginning of the innings.
Suresh Raina Predicts 2025 Champions Trophy as Rohit’s Last ICC Tournament
During an appearance on the Star Sports show Game Plan, Suresh Raina predicted that the 2025 Champions Trophy would be Rohit Sharma’s last tournament as captain. Raina feels that Rohit won’t be leading India in the next ICC event, which is scheduled for 2027.
“This could be his last ICC trophy as captain, and if he wins, he (Rohit Sharma) will become the first Indian player to win four ICC trophies. He has already won the T20 World Cup, and securing the Champions Trophy would be a remarkable achievement. He will be motivated to make it happen, but scoring runs will be crucial for him,” Suresh Raina noted.
Furthermore, Raina also praised Rohit’s leadership, calling him an attacking captain. He highlighted Rohit’s smart strategies, such as using different bowlers at key moments in the game. Raina believes that Rohit is an even better captain when he is scoring runs himself.
“Rohit Sharma is an attacking captain. The way he utilizes his bowlers is commendable—bringing in Mohammad Shami at crucial moments and relying on spinners strategically. When Rohit scores runs, it also reflects in his captaincy.”
Rohit Sharma’s Key Role in India’s Champions Trophy 2025 Bid
Talking about Rohit Sharma’s batting style, Suresh Raina believes that the Indian captain should continue playing an aggressive brand of cricket. He pointed to Rohit’s performance in the 2023 ODI World Cup as an example and urged him to adopt a similar approach in the upcoming Champions Trophy.
“I think Rohit should play aggressively. You saw how he batted in the ODI World Cup—he was attacking even in the final. So, I believe his approach will remain the same. The key question is who will open alongside him—will it be Shubman? I remember, whenever they play together, they maintain an aggressive intent,” Raina added.
Rohit Sharma was in fantastic form during the 2023 ODI World Cup, scoring 597 runs in 11 matches. He averaged 54.27 and had an impressive strike rate of 125.94. He finished the tournament as the second-highest run-scorer, just behind Virat Kohli.
Rohit Sharma will face pressure in the 2025 Champions Trophy after struggling in Tests. However, with his strong ODI record and aggressive style, he’ll be key to India’s success. India begins their campaign on February 20 against Bangladesh in Dubai.
ALSO READ: Varun Chakravarthy Earns ODI Call-Up For IND vs ENG Series
